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Sensory Integration Disorder Often Misdiagnosed

“Michael” has trouble sitting at his desk without squirming, gets distracted from his schoolwork by the sounds around him, and lands in the principal’s office for doing things that are not only impulsive but potentially dangerous – like charging into the woods during recess.

An initial diagnosis pointed to Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and doctors recommended medication for Michael. But his parents weren’t comfortable with medicating the seven-year-old and did some more research into other possible options. It was then that they found out about Sensory Integration (SI) Dysfunction, which shows many of the same signs as ADHD. Michael was tested by Occupational Therapists trained in detecting this complex disorder and found to have an SI disorder.

“Research has shown that many children who have developmental or learning difficulties have problems with sensory integration,” according to Marie Mancini, OTR/L, manager of Children’s Therapy Center, a program based in Oakville, Connecticut that provides hands-on care, training programs and a wide collaboration network for families, caregivers, educators and health care professionals.

Often associated with developmental disorders and learning disabilities, sensory integration involves the way the brain organizes and processes the sensory experiences of touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound and the pull of gravity, explains Mancini.

She says children with Sensory Integration Dysfunction have trouble relating to the world around them – to their surroundings, to the things they touch, taste, hear, smell and experience. “As a result, they have a hard time acting what society considers ‘normal’ and this leaves them wide open to failing the expectations of teachers and even the parents who love them,” she explains.

“For example, to know where our body is in space and to move appropriately, we need information from receptors located in our muscles and joints, in conjunction with our senses of balance, touch and vision. When these senses don’t process information correctly, we may see a child who is clumsy or overly aggressive because they might seek input by pushing other children or constantly crashing into things. They also may have such difficulty staying in their chair at school that they can’t focus their attention on what’s being said in the classroom,” says Mancini.

It’s no wonder that Sensory Integration Dysfunction is often treated as a behavioral problem. In fact, Mancini says that children with an SI disorder may have poor self-esteem. This is why an important part of her mission is to educate parents and teachers, as well as other health care professionals working with these children and their families. “Families with children who have sensory integration problems often require additional support to deal with the emotional issues surrounding this disorder, so we collaborate with mental health professionals. We also work with nutritionists because we’ve found – and research is discovering – a link between sensory integration dysfunction and diet in some children,” Mancini explains.

The fact remains that Sensory Integration Dysfunction is still not widely understood by many doctors and education professionals. In fact, Children’s Therapy Center is one of only a handful of sites in Connecticut with staff trained to implement the Sensory Integration Praxis Test, a comprehensive evaluation designed to pinpoint SI problems. If therapy is recommended, the Center’s staff develops a “sensory diet” which consists of activities designed to challenge the child’s ability to respond appropriately to sensory input.

“We work with the parents, teachers and other occupational therapists if the child’s school has them, to come up with strategies they can use in any setting,” says Mancini. “When a child’s sensory systems are fully functioning, learning comes easily. But immature systems can make paying attention difficult and learning frustrating. Through sensory integration therapy, many of these difficulties can be overcome